Pope declares 'zero tolerance' for sexual abuse in Catholic church

December letter becomes public in which Francis denounces ‘atrocities’ by clergy as ‘a sin that shames us’ and must be rooted out

Monday
2 January 2017
20.08 EST
Reuters in Vatican City

Pope Francis has told bishops around the world they must adhere to a policy of “zero tolerance” for clergy who sexually abuse children and begged forgiveness for “a sin that shames us”.

In a letter sent on 28 December but released by the Vatican only on Monday, Francis said: “I would like us to renew our complete commitment to ensuring that these atrocities will no longer take place in our midst.”

Since his election in 2013, Francis has taken some steps to root out sexual abuse in the church and to put in place practices to protect children. But victims’ groups say he has not done enough, particularly to hold to account bishops who tolerated sexual abuse or covered it up.

“(The church) recognises the sins of some of her members: the sufferings, the experiences and the pain of minors who were abused sexually by priests. It is a sin that shames us,” Francis wrote in the letter.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/03/pope-declares-zero-tolerance-for-sexual-abuse-in-catholic-church

Full text of letter here: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/01/02/pope_urges_bishops_to_protect_lives_of_children/1283179